If you think the ag economy is tight now, you’re not alone.
Consider the recent comments from US Senator Jerry Moran of Kansas, as initially reported on KVOE’s ag partner Brownfield.
Moran is looking at some legislative options to help producers, including a fuel option that would boost demand for US corn.
Also known as Unleaded 88, E-15 is a fuel blend including 85 percent gasoline ad 15 percent corn ethanol. It has been approved for vehicle model years 2001 and beyond and is available in all states except California.
Moran is also taking other steps to help farmers, including the introduction of the Seasonal Agriculture CDL Modernization Act that will let drivers renew their licenses online while modernizing different farm equipment classifications.
This follows comments from US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins during the 11th Ag Outlook Forum in Kansas City, Missouri, last week, as well as recent stats from the USDA on the challenges producers are facing. Seed expenses have jumped by 18 percent the last five years, while fertilizer has gone up by 37 percent, fuel and oil by 32 percent, interest by 73 percent and labor by 47 percent. The USDA says it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Justice Department to better understand why these costs keep rising.
